A Year of Resistance to Russian Aggression

Ukraine, backed by the United States and its many allies around the world, has been resisting aggression by the Russian Federation for over a year, despite early expectations that the Russians would quickly overrun the former Soviet Republic, and replace its government with one subservient to the Kremlin. Russia invaded Ukraine February 24, 2020. Ukraine’s great leadership; the Ukrainian people’s unity and determination; Western arms, materiel, training and intelligence; and tough international sanctions on Russia have thwarted thus far the dream of ex-Soviet intelligence officer Vladimir Putin, the Russian tyrant, of restoring the Soviet Union. Putin’s aggression, which has earned widespread international condemnation, has exposed him as an imperialist, diplomatically isolated Russia (except among the Rogue States), damaged the Russian economy and military, and, contrary to “the Czar’s” goals, united Eastern and Western Europe and the European Union, and strengthened the EU, the Atlantic alliance and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. One particular way it has weakened Russia and strengthened Europe has been by Europeans and others weaning themselves from Russian energy, which the Kremlin has used as a tool for bullying and as a source of revenue for its military. Putin is putting his hope in the usual failure in the West to remain determined and to endure long-term sacrifices, which are only of treasure and from the economic effects of inflation from higher energy prices. The principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity are at stake, which were supposed to have been safeguarded internationally since the Second World War, which happened after the previously unchecked aggression of the Axis Powers. The U.S. and its allies must remain steadfast in upholding these principles and in opposing aggression, and remain unwilling to trade any land stolen from Ukraine by Russia for an unjust peace.

Unify the Name and Date of the George Washington’s Birthday Holiday

“Washington’s Birthday” is the name of a Federal United States holiday intended to honor George Washington as a Revolutionary War military leader, Founding Father and President, but it is mostly not also the name of state holidays, which are usually called “Presidents’ Day” or some similar version, as the holiday is also popularly called. Even if state holidays do include Washington’s name, the names of other honorees are often included. Neither the federal, nor state holidays are ever celebrated on his February 22 birthday. As I post every year, the lack of a unified “Washington’s Birthday” name and date for the holiday on his birthday diminishes the honor for Washington and minimizes the appreciation of his greatness and contributions to America. The references to other Presidents in the names of the holiday particularly draw the focus away from his accomplishments apart from his presidency. The decreased respect for ‘the Father of our Country,” the indispensable man of the American Revolution who was a model citizen and public servant, and increased focus on less worthy honorees reduces American unity. Some States have no holiday corresponding to the federal holiday. Most States have a holiday called “Presidents’ Day,” with various punctuation, corresponding to the federal holiday of “George Washington’s Birthday." Of those which include Washington’s name in their corresponding holiday, some include George Washington’s name alone, but others include other honorees. Some of the States who do honor Washington alone with a holiday celebrate it on other dates throughout the year. “Washington’s Birthday” should be restored as the name of this holiday in States and in popular speech, and it should be celebrated on his birthday of February 22, or at least observed on the Monday closest to it so that it occasionally is celebrated on his birthday. State holidays should have the same name as the federal holiday and honor only George Washington. A unified name and date for the holiday of George Washington’s birthday would unify Americans better, instead of focusing on lesser or divisive figures, encourage education about why Washington is among the greatest leaders in world history and about his influence on America, and inspire Americans to be better citizens.

Foreign Digest: Nicaragua, China, Russia and Syria

Nicaragua: Nicaragua’s Marxist Sandinista regime as sentenced a Catholic Bishop to 26 years in prison for speaking out against the increasing tyranny and attacks on the Church and private civic organizations in the Central American State. The Bishop was among political prisoners who were released and given a choice of exile to the United States or prison. The Bishop chose to remain with his flock. Communist China: The U.S. imposed sanctions on Chinese companies associated with the spy balloon shot down earlier this month over American territorial waters. Also the U.S. repeated to Communist China that it would defend the Philippines, after an incident earlier this week in the disputed South China Sea. Russia: The U.S. warned Americans last week to leave the Russian Federation immediately because of arbitrary arrests. Also last week, the European Union declared Russia a fiscal haven for money laundering. Russia is led by an ex-Soviet intelligence officer backed by oligarchs. Syria: U.S. troops have conducted two raids this month in Syria against Islamic State leaders, killing one and capturing another. The Islamic State is an offshoot of al-Qaeda, the Islamist terrorists responsible for the deadliest terrorist attacks in history, the September 11 Terrorist Attacks on New York, Virginia and over Pennsylvania, among many other attacks. These raids follow the one in Somalia against the Islamic State that I posted about in my last post.

Foreign Digest: Somalia, Iran, Philippines, China. Italy and Niger

Somalia: The United States conducted a raid in northern Somalia a few days ago that killed the leader of the Islamic State for eastern and southern Africa and other Islamist terrorists. The terrorist leader, who was skilled at fundraising, provided money to the Islamic State in the Middle East. The terrorist organization is an offshoot of al-Qaeda, which was responsible for the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks, the deadliest in world history, among many other attacks. Starting in the 2010s, the U.S. led an international coalition of Western and Arab allies to retake the territory the Islamic State seized in western Syria and northern Iraq, where it had set up a quasi-state and declared a caliphate, which succeeded in wresting control of all the lands the terrorist organization had seized and in killing its leader. The main terrorist threat to Somalia remains al-Shabab, which is al-Qaeda’s most powerful affiliate, and is based in central and southern Somalia. The U.S. and other allies have been aiding the Somali Government against the Islamist terrorists. Iran: Israel struck an Iranian munitions facility last week that is associated with Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons program. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism and spreads Islamist revolution throughout the Islamic world. Israel has also been striking Iranian forces and Iranian-backed terrorists that threaten the Jewish State in Syria, as I have been posting. Philippines: The Philippines is granting access to the U.S. to military bases to counter the threat from Communist China in the South China Sea. American troops were stationed in the former U.S. territory during the Cold War, but were removed afterward. U.S. troops again were present in the Philippines in a successful mission against an al-Qaeda affiliate during the War on Terrorism. China: In addition to countering Communist China in the Philippines, the U.S. shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon yesterday over its territorial waters. It had traversed the American continental mainland, but the U.S. had electronically jammed it and shot it down once it reached the Atlantic Ocean to prevent any collateral damage. Italy and Niger: Italy has been under assault by anarchists protesting the treatment of their leader, who was convicted of violent crimes and whose contact with the outside is limited to prevent him from conspiring to commit more crimes, but the Government will not give into the demands of the anarchists. Meanwhile, Italy will lead a European Union aid and military mission to Niger, which is one of several African States in the Sahel battling Islamist terrorists. After the French withdrawal of its forces from Mali, whose military coup leaders instead contracted with Kremlin-associated “mercenaries” to replace the French in the fight against terrorists, this mission not only aids the War on Terrorism, but checks further Russian Federation influence in Africa. France had succeeded in liberating northern Mali from the jihadists, but Islamist terrorists, including al-Qaeda, have been conducting attacks in multiple States in the region.